The dress worn by Elizabeth Hurley that brought Versace global attention in 1994 was the Safety Pin Dress. Hurley wore the revealing black Versace design to the London premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral, accompanying Hugh Grant. Its large gold safety pins became the defining visual detail.
The dress was made from black silk and Lycra, with strategically placed oversized pins holding together cut-away sections at the sides and front. Its dramatic construction reflected Gianni Versace’s interest in celebrating the body rather than concealing it. The design has also been described as drawing on punk and sari-inspired influences.
Hurley was not yet a major international star, and several fashion houses had reportedly declined to lend her clothing. Versace’s Old Bond Street store ultimately provided the dress, turning a relatively unknown actress into a global media sensation almost overnight.
A common mix-up is calling it the Jungle Dress, the green Versace dress worn by Jennifer Lopez in 2000. That later design became famous for inspiring Google Image Search, while Hurley’s 1994 outfit is more commonly known as “That Dress” or the Safety Pin Dress.